Automatic siphon



Mr 11 1924. M995@ RJ. ANDREWS AUTOMATIC S IPHON Filed May 'f'. 1921 2 sheets-simu 1 Ru. Een lI-ldraw .my n, 1924. v 1,499,568

` R. J. ANDREWS AUTOMAT I C S I PHON Filed May V, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ruff-ian Lndrai RUSSELL J'. ANDREWS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AUTOMATIC SIPI-ION.

Application filed May 7, 1921. Serial No. 467,536.

To all whom t may concer-n.' including the floor 10 and to which floor Be it known that I, RUSSELL J ANDREWS, the discharge pipe C is mounted by means a citizen of the United States, residing at of the adjustable clamp D engaging the Denver, in the county of Denver and State screw threads 11 thereon. The adjusting 60 of Colorado, have invented certain new and clamp D is of ordinary construction, and

useful Improvements in Automatic Siincludes a pair of clamping nuts 13 adapted phons, of which the following is a specififor engaging upon washers 14; a nut 13 and cation. washer 111 being positioned upon either side This invention relates to'iinprovements in of the iioor 10. The autoinaticallyoperated 65 automatic siphons for intermittent dissiphon includes a pipe stem 15, which is in charge of continuously owing liquids. tegral with the discharge pipe C and the The primary object of the invention is the axis of which extends at right angles to the provision of an automatic Siphon of the axis of said discharge pipe. Ashort length above described character, which may be of pipe 16 of substantially the same dimen- 70 15 specifically used in photographic work, for sion as the discharge pipe C and stem 15 is automatically discharging polluted and im provided as an integral part of the stem 15, pure film wash, and in the ordinary flush which stein 15 is centrally connected thereto. tank for the intermittent discharge of The portion of pipe 16 is in fact the inlet liquids. for water adapted to be discharged from the 75 20 A further object of the invention is the automatic siplion, and the lower portion 17 provision of an automatic siphon of the of the saine forms together with the stem 15 above described character, which includes siand discharge pipe C, the main siphon, and phonic operated vacuum means for controlspecific mention of which will subsequently ling intermittent discharge of a liquid from be made. The portion 17 terminates short of 80 a container. the bottoni 10 of the tank A, and is open as Other objects and advantages will be apat 1S, to provide an inlet for liquid. A parent during the course of the following portion 19 of the pipe 16 extends upwardly detailed description. from the stem 15, the bore of which is ln the accompanying drawings, forming adapted to receive the valve means E. 85 a part of this specification, and in which The valve E is ahollow cylindrical piston, similar reference characters designate correthe saine being disposed within the bore of sponding parts throughout the several views, the pipe 16 and freely reeprocable therein. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the m- Any type of valve E may be substituted in proved automatic Siphon. place of thehollow cylinder E, it being 90 Figure 2 is a Cross sectional View of the merely a requisiteof this valve that the saine automatic siphon showing details of conbe as light in weightI as possible. A screw struction, and its adjustable application to a 20 is adjustably positioned in the lower portank structure. tion 17 of the pipe 16 and projects into the In the drawings, wherein for the purpose bore of said pipe 16, receiving the lower end 95 of illustration is shown a preferred embodiof the valve E, to support the same in place, ment of my invention, the letter A deswhereby the entrance bore o f the stem 15 igiiates a tank of any approved type, such may be Closed, and any liability of liquid as a photographic bath tank, flush tank or @Soaping into the main siphon prevented. the like, and which is adapted to contain A cap 21 is detachably mounted upon the 10o alquid, continuously flowing. screw threads 22 of the upper end of the The improved automatic siphon B inpipe portion 19, the same being centrally cludes the discharge pipe C which is adjustprovided with a bore 23, and adapted to reabl mounted upon the floor of the tank A ceive the vacuum tube F, in a detachable as gy means D. Valve ineansE is provided manner, as by means of the leak proof` 105 for regulating exit of liquid through the clamping structure 24.

outlet pipe C, said valve means E being coni The auxiliary vacuum creating s iphon G trolled through a vacuum pipe F, by a is preferably provided for disposition upon vacuum created by Siphon G, which is in the outlet pipe C. Said auxiliary siphon G reality an auxiliary Siphon, and which will comprises a T-shaped casting 25, the bore 110 be more specifically mentioned hereinafter. 24a of which is in longitudinal alignment The tank A may be of any approved type, with the bore of the discharge pipe C and having the lower end 26 projecting inwardly below the top of the bore of the stem 15 It is preferred that the T 25 be welded or otherwise secured in position, and in such position that the pipe projection 27 is angularly positioned to be free of any interference with the pipe 16. The lower end 26 of the auxiliary body 25 is internally screw threaded at 27a to receive a short length of pipe 28, this pipe 28 being of sufficient length to have its outlet on the same horizontal level as the inlet of pipe 16, and in fact said pipe 28 may be constructed to extend below the inlet of said pipe. The shank or extension 27 is preferably at right angles to the longitudinal run of the body 25 of the auxiliary siphon Gr and is adapted to receive a length of tube 30 of approximately the same internal diameter as the pipe extension 28. This tube 30 is detachably connected to the projections 27 by means of a nut or clamping structure 31, in such manner as to make the same detachable and leak proof.

The upwardly extending end 32 in longitudinal alignment with the lower portion 24a is externally screw threaded, and provided with an inwardly tapering face adapted to receive a plug 33 which receives an end of the vacuum tube F, the lower end of said vacuum tube F lying flush with the bottom of said plug A clamping nut 34 is provided for detachably mounting an end of the tube F on the extension 32 and is positioned to engage the screw threads thereon.

The improved automatic siphon can, of course, be used for many purposes, and therefore the proportionate sizes of the various pipes can be regulated to suit the needs of a particular use. However, it is necessary that the auxiliary siphon tube 30 be of less internal diameter than the diameter of the supply pipe (not shown) which fur nishes water to the tank A. This structure is provided, in Order that the water may flow into the tank A in much greater quantities than the same can be discharged through the auxiliary siphon tube 30. It is likewise preferred that the auxiliary tube 30 be much less in effective discharge capacity than the discharge capacity of the main siphon as formed by the respective pipe portions 17 15, and C.

In operation, the water is supplied to the tank A, the level in said tank rising until the same is slightly above the upper surface of the projection 27 forming a portion of the auxiliary valve E, and at which time atmospheric pressure will force the water into the tube 30 to be discharged through the extension 28 and out through the main discharge pipe C. In this manner, the auxiliary siphon will function, and as the water flows through the same to be discharged,

suction will be created upwardly through the portion 32 of the vacuum creating siphon means G, which suction will be transmitted through the pipe F into the bore of the upper portion of the pipe 16. This vacuum suction will act upon the top of the valve or piston E and when the suction becomes suiiiciently perfect, as the air is exhausted from the portion 19, the piston or valve E will be raised in the bore of the portion 19 until the same is lifted free of the bore of the stem 15, and the main siphon immediately starts t0 function. Since as before mentioned the fiow of water into the tank A is much greater than the discharge through the auxiliary siphon G, said liquid will not be lessened in height due to such siphoning, and the atmospheric pressure upon liquid in the tank A will consequently force the same upwardly through the entrance 18 into the stem 15 and downwardly through the discharge pipe C thus effecting the main siphonic effect.

Since the combined effects of the main siphon and auxiliary siphon G is to discharge a greater quantity of liquid than the supply of the same into the tank A, the level of liquid within the tank A will consequently fall, and notwithstanding the fall of such liquid the auxiliary siphon G and main siphon will continue to operate until the liquid has fallen below the entrance opening 18 in the stem 16.

lVhen the liquid in the tank A has fallen below the entrance 18, the siphoning effect of both main and auxiliary siphons is stopped, and consequently the vacuum created by the auxiliary siphon G is broken, allowing air to escape into the bore of the portion 19, through the tube F and permitting the valve E to drop by gravity on to the projecting screw 20. In this position, the valve E as heretofore mentioned closes the entrance to the main siphon through the stem 15.

The above outlined cycle of operation will be intermittently performed., diie to continuous flowing of liquid into the tank A and needs no manual operation of any of its parts to perform the entire cycle or successive cycles of operation.

Due to the variety of purposes, for which the automatic siphon valve is provided, the various parts and portions can be designed to take care of discharge of liquid from the tank A, and by this means the time of discharge and quantity of discharge can be regulated. In all types of automatic siphon valve structures, it is preferred that the adjustable means D be provided, in order that the height of the entrance 1S may be regulated or adjusted with respect to the floor 10.

In the type of siphon illustrated in the drawings, itis preferred to have the pipe 15, the stem 16 and the discharge pipe C Cil formed or cast integral. All parts ot the Structure are preferably of brass or Some non-corrodible metal.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that an automatic Siphon has been provided, in which an automatic and intermittent discharge of liquid from a container can be effected; and one in which all parts are readily accessible due to the detachable assembla e of the various parts.

arious changes in the shape, Size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the Spirit of the invention or the Scope of the claims.

I claim:

1.An automatic Siphon, comprising in combination a main Siphon, a valve regulating entrance to said main Siphon, an auxiliary Siphon, and a tube cooperating intermediate Said auxiliary Siphon and regulating valve adapted to have a vacuum created therein upon operation of Said auxiliary Siphon for operating Said valve.

2. In an automatic Siphon, the combination with a tank adapted :tor containing liquids, of means for automatically flushing the tank at intervals, including a Siphon, a valve for regulating entrance to Said siphon, and siphonic controlled vacuum means tor regulating Said valve.

3. An automatic Siphon comprising in combination an outlet pipe, an inlet pipe, valve means regulating communication of Said outlet and inlet pipes, an auxiliary siphon tube, and a vacuum tube operated by Said auxiliary Siphon tube and adapted to control said valve means.

ll. The combination with a tank adapted to continuously receive a Supply of liquid, of automatic Siphon means for flushing the tank at intervals including an auxiliary Siphon tube adapted to carry oil1 liquid 'from said tank in quantity less than the intlowing liquid, a main Siphon greater in eiiective volume than Said auxiliary Siphon, valve means for regulating entrance of liquid into Said main Siphon, and vacuum means oper ated by operation of Said auxiliary Siphon means and adapted to regulate said valve whereby upon opening of Said valve said main vacuum will draw liquid from said tank, said valve adapted to automatically close upon said liquid reaching a predetermined level.

5. An automatic Siphon comprising in combination a main Siphon outlet including an entrance passageway, a valve reciprocably mounted in Said entrance passageway, an auxiliary Siphon detachably mounted in said main Siphon outlet for operation independent of said main Siphon, and a tube connecting said auxiliary Siphon and entrance passageway, and adapted to have a vacuunr created therein upon operation of said auxiliary Siphon for operation of said valve.

6. In an automatic Siphon, the combina tion with a tank adapted to continuously receive a supply of liquid, of a outlet pipe adjustably mounted in Said tank, valve means controlling exit of said liquid through said pipe, an auxiliary Siphon for discharging liquid from the tank being less in effective discharge than the quantity of inilowing liquid, and a vacuum tube communicating between Said auxiliary Siphon and valve means, said auxiliary Siphon adapted to be automatically operated upon the liquid level rising to submerge the same for creating a vacuum in Said vacuum tube for opening of Said valve.

7."An automatic Siphon comprising a main Siphon, a valve for controlling flow of liquid through the main Siphon, an auxiliary Siphon, and means connecting the auxiliary Siphon to the main Siphon for controlling operation of the valve in the latter.

8. An automatic Siphon adapted for intermittent discharge of continuously supplied liquids comprising a main Siphon adapted for the discharge of liquids in greater quantity than they can be supplied, a valve for controlling flow of liquids through the main Siphon, an auxiliary Siphon, and means connecting the auxiliary Siphon to the main Siphon for control of the valve with respect to the main Siphon, Said auxiliary Siphon being adapted for diS- charge of a quantity of liquid less than that quantity which iS supplied.

9. An automatic Siphon device comprising a main Siphon including a discharge portion, an inlet portion, and a portion connecting the discharge portion intermediate the ends of the inlet portion, a valve Slidable in the inlet portion of the main Siphon, an auxiliary Siphon of smaller capacity than the main Siphon, and means connecting the auxiliary Siphon with the upper end of the inlet portion of the main Siphon, whereby upon operation of the auxiliary Siphon a vacuum may be created in the upper end of the inlet portion of the main Siphon for opera-ting the valve in the main Siphon so that water may flow into the discharge portion of the main Siphon.

10. An automatic Siphon comprising a Siphon Structure, and vacuum controlled valve means for regulating operation of said Siphon.

RUSSELL J. ANDREWS.. 

